LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

If only she were president, to characterize this Congress. Margaret Thatcher: "They've got the usual socialist disease — they've run out of other people's money." — Robert Smith, Medford

If only she were president, to characterize this Congress. Margaret Thatcher: "They've got the usual socialist disease — they've run out of other people's money." — Robert Smith, Medford

The cougar shooting photo spread was unnecessary and uncalled for. Maybe you misjudged and lumped us with people fascinated by executions, fires, accidents, etc. Well, all human nature cannot be categorized. Back when a bounty was paid, photos of strings of cougars would be taken. I thought we had progressed. This was needless slaughter. — Helen Josey, White City

The people that are raising the big fuss over the killing of the cougar in Ashland are the same ones who would be first to sue the city should their pet or, worse yet, their child be mauled by the cougar. — Richard Cody, Applegate

In these troubling economic times, we read about how schools and other programs affecting our youth will suffer greatly.

However, the Foster Grandparent Program of Southern Oregon offers a unique opportunity for low-income seniors to earn additional income while using their life experiences to assist children in Josephine, Klamath and Jackson counties. It requires a minimum of 15 hours a week to receive the nontaxable stipend, and additional benefits include mileage reimbursement/bus pass, annual physical and accrued personal leave.

Sites where the foster grandparents are placed vary from traditional settings such as schools, but also include child-care centers, Head Start, after-school programs or any nonprofit organization that works with youth. This is truly a win-win for our communities as the children receive the mentoring they need and these seniors earn income that will allow them to remain living independently and often times purchase medications they could not have otherwise afforded.

Last fiscal year, 119 program participants spent a total of 88,872 hours helping children in the three counties. To obtain additional information on this program, please contact the Foster Grandparent Program, Rogue Valley Manor Community Services at 857-7793. — Michele Jones, RVMCS Advisory Council member, Medford

I have just read another wonderful letter to the editor by Michael Steely and I just wanted to say that he speaks, most eloquently, for me also. I thank him for his timely, well-informed and beautifully expressed letters to the editor. I always look for them and just wanted to express my gratitude to him for speaking out, as he is giving a voice to my opinions too. — Susan Stedman, Medford

Walls and windows pound day and night? Meet the Subwoofer Assault Vehicle ... yes, the SAV. Like a mobile version of graffiti, arrogant drivers with super-amplified car stereos are increasingly "thumping" our neighborhoods with their unwanted music.

Often heard from blocks away, these low-frequency bass-beats disturb local lives. Residents on arterial streets suffer this merciless noise pollution every few minutes.

Is the law enforced? A little, but mostly when police encounter flagrant violations they can't ignore. Vigorous enforcement requires input from you. Without your voice, this epidemic simply increases over time. So, will you speak up?

Send your thoughts to subwoofer@charter.com. Post comments at www.mailtribune.com to keep this story going. Urge the MT to offer a follow-up article on this important local issue.

Alas! I had mistakenly thought that the Civil War ended on May 26,1865, and here it is, 144 years and 266 days later, in full flower under the command of the Republican Party in the United States Congress. But then, what can one expect? The first slave ship to arrive in the English colonies was in 1619 and our country thrived under slavery.

Only now it has a new name. Thrift. — Audrey Sochor, Medford

Now that the stimulus package has been enacted by Congress, the question remains, who was it designed to help?

The House mandated that projects using stimulus money would have to use the E-Verify system for the purpose of ensuring that people employed under the program were legal to live and work in the country. The Senate version took E-Verify out and efforts by the joint conference committee to put it back in were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has delayed implementation of a rule that would have required federal contractors to use E-Verify, and the president indicated he would happily sign the stimulus bill as is.

What this tells those of us who follow such things is, both Congress and the new administration intend for the stimulus money to go to people who are not legally here and who will gleefully send 80 percent of their earnings out of the country. Now, if we only knew where all of that money will end up, American taxpayers could go there and be stimulated. — Robert Bennett, Grants Pass

They used to say, "A good man is hard to find." Well, we found one.

He works at Thunderbird Market, and his name is Dave.

When finished with our shopping for groceries on Sunday, we discovered that neither of us had brought money to pay for the groceries. Not even IDs. Dave opened his wallet and paid our bill, without question as to our name or address. We paid him the next day. A heartwarming story is nice in these times, right? — H. Van Belleghem, Jacksonville

Can anyone explain, simply explain, why, after so many years we still can't properly fund our education system?

Why do the valley school districts have a $7 million dollar shortfall? I don't understand! Education is supposed to be No. 1! Isn't it? Why does funding seem to be a problem every year?

I'm beginning to think there's something to be said for home-schooling and private schools. Maybe we need to close down public schools and find another way to educate our future. A way that doesn't require us to properly fund a public system. — Jim Mollett, Medford

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